Heads-up > there could be twenty-five B-25s on the field this April

Rick Rademacher

Rick Rademacher

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Rick Rademacher
I had a super time two years ago and am looking forward to their return this April to Grimes Field Urbana, Ohio. Although I enjoy flying my Cub, there is just something unique about the sound that all of those big round engines create when preparing for takeoff.

For more information goto -> http://www.champaignaviationmuseum.org/Grimes_Gathering_of_B-25s.php
 
Thats real close to me, I might have to go check it out. Looks like a good time.
 
Only about an hour and a half for me. That would be a great day! Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
 
I love the sound of radials at any time.

Anyhoo, this yr is the 70th anninversary of the Doolittle raid. From what I hear it's shaping up to be a Really Big Deal.

Personal note: on IFR arrival in VMC I happened to share the air with B-25s arriving to KFAT. I was very excited but to my dismay they circled miles to the south to group up for a fly-by before landing. But the B-17 which accompanied them proceeded to make his approach. IIRC, I was No. 2 behind the Fort. The B-25s did land and then were cordoned off at the NG side of the field. I wasn't able to walk among them but I did witness their finger four fly-by.

I think there were 26 B-25s for that event.
 
There will be at least 24 B-25s arriving on Saturday April 14th. They will stay in Urbana on display and giving rides until Tuesday. If the weather is good, they will launch at 7.A.M Tuesday, one every 90 seconds for the short flight to Dayton.

You will be able to walk amongst the B-25s on display and talk to the crews.

This will be a once in a life time event!

goto this link for more information ->

http://www.champaignaviationmuseum.org/Grimes_Gathering_of_B-25s.php
 
> they will launch at 7.A.M Tuesday, one every 90 seconds for the short flight
> to Dayton.

I wonder if someone is gonna paint an outline of the Hornet's deck on the runway? Will
they will "bomb" Springfield enroute to Dayton? <g>
 
There's also a lot going on at the Air Force museum that week, including a lunch with some of the
Doolittle raiders, static displays, etc.

The museum alone would be worth the trip- it is huge.
 
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 22, 2012

Urbana, Ohio, Airport the Target for Largest Gathering of B-25 Bombers since World War II​

Record-setting Event Leads Up to
70th Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Reunion at Air Force Museum​

URBANA, Ohio – Flying in from around the U.S., about two dozen B-25 Mitchell bombers will converge on Urbana, Ohio’s municipal airport, Grimes Field, beginning Saturday, April 14. The largest gathering of B-25s since World War II, the Grimes Gathering of B-25s will lead into the 70th Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Reunion at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (NMUSAF), near Dayton.
For the 68th Reunion in 2010, 17 B-25s gathered at Grimes Field.

The 70th Reunion ceremonies, April 17-20, will commemorate the famed April 18, 1942, bombing raid on Japan by 16 B-25s and their brave crewmen, under the leadership of Lt. Col. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle. The five surviving crewmen of the raid will participate in the reunion, including being the guests of honor at a private breakfast at the Champaign Aviation Museum at Grimes Field.
The Grimes Gathering of B-25s, April 14-16, will allow the public to get a close-up look at the twin-engine medium bombers while they are on static display – and meet their crews. Also while in Urbana, the B-25s will fly around the area. Rides will be available for purchase on as many as six of the aircraft.

At 7 a.m. Tuesday, April 17, the B-25s will begin a dramatic departure from Grimes Field, taking off one after the other for the NMUSAF, where they will take part in ceremonies honoring the surviving Doolittle Tokyo Raiders.

“This is a tremendous privilege and honor, for the Urbana area and Grimes Field to play a role in honoring these American heroes,” said Jim White, who is co-chairing the Grimes Gathering of B-25s with Dave Millner. “The Grimes Gathering of B-25s is living history at its best. Seeing these meticulously restored aircraft and hearing the roar of their engines, I believe, brings you closer to appreciating the sacrifice and bravery of the men who put their lives on the line for our freedom.”

Visitors can gain ramp admittance for close-up viewing of the bombers from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 14-16, for a $5 donation, which will help defray costs of the event, including fuel for the bombers. A variety of World War II era military vehicles also will be on display.

Flights will be available for purchase on up to six of the aircraft. Flight reservations can be made from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 14-16 in the Champaign Aviation Museum at Grimes Field.
One of the participating B-25s, the Champaign Gal, is part of the permanent collection of the Champaign Aviation Museum.


For more information…
# # #​

About the Doolittle Raid

The Doolittle Raid was a pivotal mission in the U.S. war against Japan. In an unprecedented combat launch from the USS Hornet aircraft carrier, 16 Army Air Force B-25s attacked Tokyo and four other Japanese cities on April 18, 1942, four months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Under the leadership of Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle, the mission gave Americans a much-needed lift in spirits and alarmed the Japanese, who had believed their home islands were safe from invasion.

While the Doolittle Raiders successfully bombed the targeted cities without loss, 15 of the 16 bombers crash-landed en route to recovery fields in eastern China. They were low on fuel because they had to take off 170 miles early when the Hornet was spotted by Japanese fishing vessels; the recovery bases lacked homing aids; and they were flying at night in stormy, zero-visibility conditions.

Only one of the B-25s landed intact, in the Soviet Union, where its five-man crew was interned and the aircraft confiscated.

Of the 80 Doolittle Raiders, seven were injured and three were killed. In addition, eight crew members were taken prisoner by the Japanese. Three were executed and one died of malnutrition and mistreatment in confinement. Many of the Raiders went on to fly other combat missions. Ten were killed in action in Europe, North Africa and Indo-China.

The five surviving Raiders are participating in the 70th Reunion.


About Grimes Field

Rich in history, Grimes Field, 1636 N. Main St. (U.S. 68), Urbana, is an active airport that serves the private and corporate aviation needs of Urbana and Champaign County, Ohio. The airport was donated to the city of Urbana in 1943 by Warren G. Grimes, a pioneer in aviation lighting whose many inventions include the familiar red, green, and white navigation lights on the wing tips and tails of aircraft.

Inducted posthumously into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2010, Mr. Grimes is known as the Father of the Aircraft Lighting Industry. In the 1930s he founded Grimes Manufacturing (now Honeywell Aerospace) in Urbana. The company, which continues to serve military and commercial aviation markets, engineered and manufactured lighting used on nearly all American and Allied aircraft in World War II.


The airport is a part of the National Aviation Heritage Area (aviationheritagearea.org) and is home to two museums:
  • The Champaign Aviation Museum features World War II-era aircraft, including the B-25J Champaign Gal, and is home to the ongoing restoration of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, the Champaign Lady.
  • The Grimes Flying Lab Museum celebrates Warren Grimes’ important role in the history of flight and features the restored Grimes Flying Lab, a Beech 18 used to test Grimes’ innovations.
The airport hosts fly-ins and special events, including the Mid-Eastern Regional Fly-in, one of the country’s leading gatherings of experimental aircraft, to be held August 25 and 26 this year.
# # #​

Media Contacts for the Grimes Gathering of B-25s:​

Ron Kaplan, Media Coordinator
C: 937-212-8847 rkaplan@nationalaviation.org​

Gary Schenkel, Deputy Media Coordinator
C: 937-478-6533 schenkel@ctcn.net​

You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website www.nationalaviation.org

Our mailing address is:
National Aviation Hall of Fame P.O. Box 31096 Dayton, OH 45437

Our telephone:
937-256-0944

Copyright (C) 2008 National Aviation Hall of Fame All rights reserved.









​
 
Crashed my Golding riding back from the last one of these, and it was still worth it.
 
Could not get my Cub out of the hanger all weekend in 2010. That green B-25 at the bottom of the picture was blocking my way. Yet, was loving it!
 

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Never know what you might find in a hanger (me) or a ... and flying over my open hanger door this week.
 

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How many of you have been in the air with a Jap Zero and lived to tell about it? Today, my wingman Stan and I forced a Zero to land. Of course, it was an unfair matchup with two J-3 Cubs against only one Zero.
That’s our story and were sticking to it!
 

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My old man (dad) is the crew chief on the B25 Maid in the Shade. He is there with the rest of the guys. He has a great time flying around all summer with the Mesa Wing CAF. He is the old red headed guy. If you see him say hello and tell him his oldest son wishes he was there with him. They are coming to Colorado in June.
Iz
 
It was the thrill of a lifetime to be in the pattern and hear “Zero on downwind for two zero Grimes ”.
The “Last Samurai” is the world’s last remaining airworthy A6-M2 Zero. The Zero and a few other aircraft in the Texas Flying Legends collection are here.
 

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